BBC and ITV shuttered their Standard Definition (SD) channels for Sky TV and Freesat boxes last month. If you're still using an older set-top box that doesn't support High Definition (HD) broadcasts, you're unable to tune in and watch BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, ITV3, ITV4, and ITVBe.
Freeview boxes are not impacted by the changes.
To help with the transition, BBC launched a help schemeto assist anyone with ageing hardware to find a way to start watching their favourite channels again. However, the scheme will close on February 16, 2024.
The BBC has warned that there are a limited number of engineer visits available before the deadline. Assistance for elderly and vulnerable viewers, including a £40 one-off payment to put towards a new HD-compatible box, will end in the coming days.
It warns: "On 8th January 2024, the BBC ended its SD broadcasts on satellite and replaced them with a channel closed message. If you are still using SD satellite equipment, you now need to upgrade to a HD device to continue watching BBC channels."
The move away from SD-quality broadcasts has been a long time coming.
The biggest hurdle preventing the transition to HD-only broadcasts, which offer an improved viewing experience with twice the resolution, was local news bulletins. These were often broadcast in lower quality as BBC and ITV had not upgraded studios nationwide to the correct equipment.
Both broadcasters finalised their upgrades in December 2023, paving the way for the switch-off in January.
If you're unsure whether your Sky TV or Freesat box was impacted by the shake-up, the easiest way to check is to head to BBC channel 101. If you see a warning stating "channel closed", it means you're trying to watch on an SD-only device and need to upgrade your hardware to continue watching BBC and ITV channels.
BBC will offer free advice to anyone who needs to upgrade their kit — but not for much longer.
An example of a Freesat box, which connects to the satellite dish affixed to the outside of your home and offers access to dozens of free-to-view channels
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In an update published on its HD Satellite Upgrade website, it states: "For any SD-only satellite device users that have not yet upgraded, we are still able to offer advice and limited support through our help scheme – however, there is very limited availability and the scheme will be fully closing from 16 February.
"If you still need advice or support, we would strongly encourage you to act now whilst support is available. After 16 February, no further help scheme support to upgrade will be available.
"Until 16 February, you can call our support line on 0330 123 1876 during the hours of 9am and 5pm during weekdays. You will be asked to leave your details and you will be contacted over phone by a member of our support team within five days (and before the scheme closure date of 16 February)."
BBC warns that it has "a small number of engineer visits available" before the deadline and that "no further support can be provided after that date". According to the online resources, the "quickest way" to get BBC channels back up-and-running is to plug in a new set-top box yourself.
"Our replacement boxes are simple to install and come with full instructions to help you or possibly a friend or family member to get you up and running," the BBC advises.
If you're aged over 75 or receive one of a small number of benefits, you might be eligible for extra assistance. You might be able to claim a £40 voucher to put towards the purchase of a new Freesat set-top box, like the Freesat 4K box or the Manhattan SX.
Freesat boxes are widely available from the biggest online and high street stores, with prices starting from £50 and maxing out at £300 for a flagship model with 4K Ultra HD support and a spacious hard-drive for hours of recordings.
If you’re a current Sky subscriber, contact customer support to arrange an upgrade to a newer set-top box at no cost. However, if you’re still using an SD-only Sky TV box without a subscription, you’ll need to resubscribe before you can be upgraded to the latest hardware.
That could carry a much higher cost, with Sky TV monthly plans starting from £26 per month for Sky Stream and rising to £40 for the all-in-one Sky Glass 4K TV.
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Crucially, it’s not just TV channels that will be impacted by the switchover. BBC radio stations will also stop working for anyone with a SD-only box.
Although the BBC will continue to broadcast radio via satellite across the UK in the same audio quality, changes to a number of technical parameters means the services won’t work on ageing hardware either.
ITV1 will remain available after this deadline on SD-only set-top boxes. However, whenever the channels cuts to regional news — you'll lose all picture and sound from the broadcast since these will be HD-only.
ITV has yet to confirm when SD-only ITV1 will be shut down, but it's likely to follow later this year. In a blog post about the switch, ITV wrote: "Here at ITV, we are making some major improvements to complete our upgrade to all-HD on satellite for ITV1 bringing all the ITV regions and sub-regions which haven’t yet upgraded into HD."
If you rely on a Freesat box, the easiest way to check whether your kit is compatible with High Definition (HD) broadcasts is to head to Channel 799. This is a test channel created by the BBC to help viewers navigate their similar switch to HD-only broadcasts.
The only purpose of the channel is to indicate whether your TV hardware is compatible with HD broadcasts. If your box is incompatible, you'll see a message about the upcoming transition to HD.
If you're watching telly on an older Sky TV box, the best way to find out whether you'll need to upgrade is to press the Services button on your remote control, followed by 4 and 5. Then you'll need to check the version number of your set-top box.
Sky has provided the following version numbers for ageing hardware that will need to be upgraded to continue watching BBC channels and radio...
Both Freesat and Sky have helplines for those who are concerned about the switch to HD coming next month from ITV and BBC. Sky customers with older, incompatible boxes should call 03337591018, while Freesat viewers in the same situation should dial 03453130051 for guidance.
